Silique shattering is one of the major constriction in the yield of Brassica napus (rapeseed/canola) and is responsible for pre-harvest yield losses ranging from 10 to 70%, depending on environmental conditions and harvest management. As agriculture moves towards regenerative systems characterized by reduced tillage, diversified rotations, and reduced agrochemical inputs, seed retention is increasingly framed as a resilience trait rather than a yield trait. This review synthesizes current understanding of four interconnected areas: the biological and developmental basis of dehiscence-zone regulation, regenerative agroecosystems considered as a distinct selection environment, genomic strategies for improving seed retention, and ideotype design frameworks for low-input production systems. The multigenic basis of pod shattering, governed by transcription factors including SHP, IND, JAG and TCP, hormonal signaling networks, and cell-wall remodeling and cell-death-associated enzymes, motivates integrated breeding efforts that go beyond single-locus solutions. We also assess the combined, complementary contributions of marker-assisted selection, genomic selection that explicitly models genotype (G) × environment (E) × management (M) interaction, multiplex CRISPR editing, speed breeding, and multi-omics integration as approaches for achieving genetic gain more rapidly than through conventional breeding alone. Critical research gaps include the lack of standardized high-throughput phenotyping protocols, limited data from real-world regenerative field conditions, and the underuse of phenomics and multi-omics integration. Building on this synthesis, we propose, as a conceptual framework rather than a demonstrated pipeline, a self-reinforcing, data-driven breeding concept aimed at the development of shattering-resilient B. napus ideotypes suited to sustainable, low-input agroecosystems.
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